…I believe God that it will be just as it was told me…Acts 27:25 NKJV

The devil was defeated, crushed and stripped of all of his authority over the born again ones at the Cross and the empty Tomb. The sinless One bore all their sin that they might become the righteousness of God in Him, seating them at the Father’s right hand, on thrones of authority from which they are to rule in His name. The born again ones are commissioned to see the will of God done on earth as it is in Heaven, as they are the agents and representatives of the King.

…the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 1 John 5:19 NKJV

The devil is defeated and crushed, but he still maintains a` certain level of authority over the unsaved ones, through whom he exercises authority in the world. Truly, the great key to changing the world’s future is to get everyone, literally everyone, born again, because then, with each new birth, the devil loses more and more of his ability to work in the world.

Now, there will be times when the devil, our adversary, is able to marshal circumstances in such a way as to put born again ones in harm’s way. Wise men will train and prepare to handle such circumstances so that the will of God can continue to be done on earth through them, regardless of the traps of the enemy. Wise born again ones determine that no demon from hell will send them to Heaven prematurely!

He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight. Ps 72:14 NKJV

How do you overcome ungodly circumstances?

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. 1 John 5:4-5 NKJV

When I first thought of this article, I thought I would call it ‘surviving ungodly circumstances.’ But then I realized there is a world of difference between a survivor and an overcomer. A survivor thinks, “Whew! I survived that (implying, maybe I won’t next time!)!” A overcomer says, “I put these circumstances under my feet so that I crush them and climb higher in God as I overcome!” See the difference! One thinks he avoided a disaster, the other thinks he will use the challenge to grow up in God. We are called to be overcomers, not survivors.

…My Savior, You save me from violence. 2 Sam 22:3 NKJV

We will examine two great ungodly circumstances, one from the Gospels and one from the book of Acts, see how they were overcome, then look at some practical training we can do for our own lives.

UNGODLY CIRCUMSTANCE – JESUS’ FIRST SERMON

Consider what happened to Jesus at the end of the first sermon that He preached in his home town of Nazareth…

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. Luke 4:28-31 NKJV

Some speculate that Jesus transported Himself, because it says He passed through their midst. If you study this word, DIERCHOMAI, it simply means to walk away through the midst of others. Usually, when the Word speaks of someone being transported, it says so very clearly ( Acts 8:39, Luke 4:14). Here is what I believe happened…

The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart. Deut 28:28 NKJV

“Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 2 Kings 6:18 NKJV

Brother Andrew was the famous Dutch missionary who would smuggle Bibles into the old Soviet Union, where they were considered illegal, pornographic materials. He would pray, “Lord, You made blind eyes see, now make seeing eyes blind.” And, He would! Andrew would even leave some Bibles exposed, so that he wouldn’t trust in his own cleverness. Over and over again, God made seeing eyes not to be able to see what they were searching for. Remember the men, and the angels, at Lot’s door? Same thing.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  John 14:26 NKJV

The Lord as a rabbi would have memorized the Torah, so He would have known the Deuteronomy and 2 Kings records. The Spirit simply brought them to His remembrance at that moment to apply in His ungodly circumstance. Jesus, by the Spirit of God, made them unable to see Him, and He walked away. Hallelujah!

Remember also, that you have the scriptural authority and spiritual potential to strike others with this type of blindness as well, which is much better and less lethal than your best kungfu or weapons training. The Spirit will bring to your remembrance what you need to know, then just be lovingly bold!

Now, here is an important point to understand – the Word and the Spirit have to agree. If you are having manifestations, and you really can’t confirm from the Word of God that those manifestations are the Spirit of God, then I would not trust, follow after or seek those manifestations. Of course, the enemy does counterfeit true manifestations, so you may have to look a little deeper at times. Always remember, in all demonstrations of the Spirit, the Spirit and the Word have to agree.

Training point – Jesus stayed quiet in His spirit through the crisis to be able to hear the Holy Spirit’s guidance, which made me think of the great poem “If,” by Rudyard Kipling. “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you…you’ll be a Man, my Son.”

UNGODLY CIRCUMSTANCE – PAUL ON THE WHEAT SHIP

“Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” Acts 27:10 NKJV

To get the backstory, the context of Acts 27, you have to go all the way back to Acts 19. In verse twenty one we are told that Paul purposed in his spirit that he must see Rome. Understand that as a bond servant of Jesus Christ, there are things that you just know that you have to do, that you must accomplish. For Paul, Rome was one of them. This purpose was later confirmed to him by the Lord in Acts 23.

But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” Acts 23:11 NKJV

Now, a RHEMA word like this one is going to impart faith to enable the receiver to get the job done. Paul had been arrested. During his trial he had appealed, as a Roman citizen, to be judged by Caesar in Rome. You have to love Paul! He was going to get to Rome one way or the other. The ‘wheat ship’ incident occurs as he is being transported to Rome as a prisoner.

So, what do you do when you know the situation is going to be a disaster, and there is no way you can avoid it? You drop everything and immerse yourself in God!

But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. Acts 27:21-22 NKJV

I love how Paul tweaked them…”You should have LISTENED!” Paul must have had a great sense of humor, and been a joy to be around!

This may be one of the most powerful fasting accounts in the Scriptures. First the revelation was – Acts 27:10 – ‘everyone is going to die.’ Then, after fourteen days of prayer and fasting, which I am sure included hour after hour of praying in tongues, the revelation came, ‘If you will listen to me, Paul, everyone will live.’

For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. Acts 27:23-25 NKJV

Listen, dear one, the Lord delights in mercy! He loves to turn the worst situations back to His saving grace and mercy. Never, ever give up…fight with all you have, until the Son breaks through, until the nightmare is past. When all else fails, drop everything and immerse yourself in God.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION – KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!

Presumption is a great sin that has caused countless tragedies. How many times have you put yourself in a dangerous situation without even acknowledging God before you did it? When I taught my son to drive a car, I taught him to pray before he drove. Do you know that now that he has a family, they still do it, each time before they drive? My wife just launches into prayer as we start to drive anywhere.

Do you realize that every time you drive, or ride in a vehicle, be it a car, bus, train, or airplane, the potential for disaster, or violent death and destruction, is all around you? You can know beforehand, by the Spirit of God, if you are supposed to be on that bus, or train, or plane, and ‘will it arrive safely?’

If God says, “no!” – don’t go! If you are riding or driving, and you become uncomfortable in your spirit, begin to immerse yourself in God. Ask Him to show you what is out there, what the enemy has planned, and take authority over it. I much more enjoy hearing a testimonial than attending a memorial. Know before you go! Love you!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…